The City of Greensboro 2022-2023 fiscal year budget is on the agenda for approval at the Tuesday, June 21 City Council meeting.
The amount of the budget, the tax rate and any details about how the city revenue will be spent beginning July 1, 2022 is unknown.
The agenda for the June 21 meeting published on the City of Greensboro website has this note about the proposed budget, “This item is still under construction. The ordinance is forthcoming.”
The public is allowed to speak on any “General Business” item on the agenda. However, someone who may be considering speaking for or against the proposed 2022-2023 budget is at an extreme disadvantage since they have no way of knowing what the proposed tax rate will be, nor do they have information about how the money will be spent.
City Manager Tai Jaiyeoba has initiated a number of policies in the few months he has been in office designed to keep the public from having access to information. One was to ban the media from the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber during City Council meetings, an action that Jaiyeoba discovered he did not have the authority to do. Another is in not making reports and presentations available to the public before and even after meetings.
The indications are that the 2022-2023 budget will include the largest tax increase in the history of the City of Greensboro. At the June 14 City Council work session, City Councilmembers Yvonne Johnson, Marikay Abuzuaiter, Tammi Thurm, Sharon Hightower and Nancy Hoffmann all said they would support the revised budget and the huge tax increase recommended by Jaiyeoba.
Mayor Nancy Vaughan, Councilmember and mayoral candidate Justin Outling and Councilmember Hugh Holston said they would not.
The revised budget cut $1 million from the Police Department and used some accounting tricks to lower the proposed tax rate from 66.25 cents to 63.25 cents. The revenue neutral tax rate is 54.56 cents, so the recommended rate of 63.25 cents is equivalent to an 8.69 cent tax increase, representing the largest tax increase in the history of Greensboro.
The proposed budget, which may or may not be the budget that will be considered by the City Council on June 21, totaled $680 million compared to the budget for the current fiscal year of $619 million.
I am not impressed with this City Manager. I hate we have to live under his rule. Greensboro used to be such a nice place to live. Now it’s just going down the tubes.
City of Greensboro “essential” employees worked each and every day through COVID. They were picking up trash, repairing water mains, repairing streets, maintaining city facilities and equipment, and many other things while some “worked from home.” These employees were given a $500 bonus. They make less than teachers while working out in the heat and cold each day to provide exceptional service to everyone. Many have left the City of Greensboro for higher paying jobs. Many positions remain open straining the the few, hard-working employees even more and they continue to show up. $500 is insulting. The City Employees realize they are taken for granted and grossly underpaid. Greensboro City Council, please recognize their service, and do better by your employees this year.
What part of The City of Greensboro do you work in?
Winston Salem employees got $2000
The African Communist City Manager is clearly a Stalinist. He must be fired ASAP.
Bye-bye Tai !
Bye-Bye Tai !
BYE-BYE TAI !
John just curious which of the council members voting yes on this budget actually own property in Greensboro. Any way you can find out for us. Thanks and thank you and the muse for the job you do.
What did you expect from this bunch?
This isn’t Charlotte, and we don’t want it to be. Send this new city manager back.
Some of the new assistant county managers can move along as well. You’ll need a speculum to take the next step. Godspeed to you all.
Just another reason in a long line of reasons to vote all of these folks out and send Tai Jaiyeoba packing. We need MORE transparency in city government not less. Three up for election that will make a difference are Tony Wilkins, Thurston Reeder and Katie Rossabi. The selections for Mayor are about the same and will do little to make the tax payers of GSO feel good.
The best candidate for mayor is the write-candidate, Chris Meadows. Make sure to write his name so it can be read. Do not give any reason for your vote not to count.
If you want to feel good about your vote for mayor, vote for write-in candidate Chris Meadows. Spread the word.
Inflation is reported to be 8.6%. Actually, it’s around 20%. My property tax for Guilford County and Greensboro will be 32% higher this year than in 2021.
Funny thing about inflation here. I’m having a hard time finding anyone who will admit to voting for any of the democrats on the board or for slo joe. I’m guessing no one wants to be responsible. Maybe grace girl will step up to the plate